Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 1 Parts
Here's the parts from the new Wolverine Phoenix AIM-54A Kit. This model is available from: http://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/ It's a BT-80 based model to be flown with 24mm D12 engines. E and F composite engines could also be used. Based on the OOP Estes Phoenix kit there has been some ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 2 Engine Mount
You do have to notch the forward centering ring for the 1/4" wide ribbon Kevlar. This is easily done with files and a sharp hobby knife. The engine mount tube is notched for the upper bend of the 2 3/4" long engine hook. When positioning the upper centering ring, I set it 90 degrees to the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 3 Engine Mount
The lower centering ring is set back 1/4" from the low end of the engine mount tube. The notch for the engine hook movement is the perfect size. It allows just enough movement for insertion of the engine and no side "play" of the hook.
A wrap of tape goes over the engine hook. I used ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 4 Body Tube Joining
The instructions have you join the tubes together after the fins are glued on. I prefer to join the tubes, and fill the butt joint without the fins or launch lug in the way. The kit includes a very long 4" coupler. Check the fit and sand the outside until a easy slip fit in the tube ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 5 Filling BT Joint Here's a little prep so filling the joint between the two body tube pieces will go a little easier. You'll be working about an inch at a time with the medium CA glue and Q-tips. Have plenty of Q-tips ready. You'll use them once and throw it away. Have a round burnisher handy (like the back end of ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 6 Filling Seams This method of seam filling may not work for everybody. This is just how I do it. The filler you use to fill the body tube seams is mixed slightly thicker than the "brushable" CWF used to fill balsa.
Dip just the tip of a dull X-Acto knife into your thinned CWF.
Set it ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 7 Filling Tube Seam This is the tube seam after filling. It's ready for fin gluing and color coats.
Before it got to this point: A layer of thinned CWF was brushed over the joint between the two tube ends. That was sanded to surface with 400 grit on a block. To be sure that filler stayed in the joint, medium CA ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 8 Gluing The Engine Mount
The rear centering ring of the engine mount is recessed 1 3/4" from the rear of the body tube. I measured using the end of my straightedge, running the pencil tip up to 1 3/4" Notice my thumb at the end of the ruler. Your thumb will be your depth guage. Hold the pencil in this ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 9 Shock Cord Attachment
The Kevlar ribbon was fed out the rear of the engine mount to tie it to the elastic shock cord. Here's how I've been tying Kevlar to elastic shock cords lately.
I don't know if this 1/4" wide Kevlar ribbon will need a "bumper" over the tube edge or not. The wider Kevlar would have less of ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 10 Fin Tapers Part 1
Cut out the fin taper template and trace it onto the face of the fins with a sharp, soft pencil. A softer pencil will make a darker line. TIP: If the laser cutting process left a dark brown edge, don't sand it off! You'll be able to use that dark edge to better see the thickness of the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 11 Fin Tapers Part 2
With the fin edge marked (or left dark brown from the laser burning) you can clearly see how thick the edges are as you sand. Sand a few strokes, and check the edge. Turn over the fin, sand a few strokes and check the edge on the other side. Some builders will sand an equal amount of strokes on ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 12 Upper Fin Fill Sand
You'll need a sanding block to sand the filler down and keep the taper edges sharp. Here I'm using 220 to knock down the bulk of the filler. I'll switch to 400 grit for final smoothing. Don't just sand back and forth and hope for the best - Set your block down on the outside taper. Before ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 13 Lower Fin Fill
Sand the top taper of the lower fin first. Again, use a block. Using a block prevents any "dipping" of the flat surface you are trying to achieve. Using sandpaper over your fingertips could make a concave dipped area.
Here's another way to preserve the sanded taper edge. After sanding the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 14 Nose Cone Fill
This is the largest balsa nose cone I've seen in a kit for quite a while. After painting with thinned CWF the upper surfaces were sanded with 220 grit sandpaper. This removed the bulk of the filler. Use the 220 grit until the dried brush strokes are removed. Here you can use sandpaper over ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 15 Fin Primer Sand
The fins are large so they'll be sprayed with primer/filler on side at a time. Here I've stuck them down to masking tape, the sticky side of the tape is up. TIP: Before setting the tape on the spray board, set the tape on your pant leg and remove. This picks up some denim fibers and ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 16 Fin Glue Prep
The body tube was marked for fins using the marking guide from the kit. The root edges of both fins were set next to their alignment lines. There is a 1" space between the lower and upper fins. I needed to sand the body tube to the white skin under the primer. But, leave the primer on the body ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 17 Raised Panels
On Jim Ball's Scale site, I saw some closeups of the panel covers. On the left, these are the raised gray rectangles over the upper blue bands. They are indicated on the decal sheet but not a raised piece as shown here. (These are not included in the kit, but I'll show how they are constructed ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 18 Raised Panels
You can check to see if your panels are square by setting them against the corner of your straightedge.
The laminated craft stick was cut to the size of the outside edges of the panel squares on the decal sheet. I want the edges of the panel to cover up the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 19 Gluing the Fins
When gluing on the rear fins, be sure they are even with the end of the body tube. Here the flat side of a sanding block is pressed against the trailing edge of the fin until it's even with the body tube.
All four of the lower fins were glued in place. This is a preview of a new ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 20 Lugs and Mask
The two 3/16" lugs were glued in line centered between two fins. Normally I'd use a launch rod to line them up. but the 3/16" rod was much heavier than a 1/8" aluminum rod. You can use a (lighter) dowel, but be sure it is straight. TIP: Before you buy a dowel at the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 21 Wet Sanding
After spraying the fins with the first coat of white, I had some sanding marks and near "sand-throughs" showing. It looks like I didn't smooth enough with the 400 grit after the initial sanding with 220 grit. These rough areas will need to be smoothed out. After the color coats have ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 22 Nose Cone Mask This technique was covered in an earlier post and in an article written for the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter. This kit is different, you are supplied with a Nose Cone Masking Guide used for cutting the correct mask arc.
A nose cone marking guide is provided in the kit. Cut it out, form ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 23 Body Tube Paint
On a model this size, it's hard to get an even coverage on the final heavy coat of paint. By the time you get around the entire body, considering the length of the rocket, the paint is already starting to set up. To get a "wet" look finish, the final coat is sprayed on heavier. For a more ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 24 Top Tube Mask
There is a 1/8" wide silver band around the top of the body tube. I used Scotch tape, masking tape behind that, then a full wrap of a cut grocery bag. The top was sprayed with 2X Rustoleum aluminum.
This would have been easier using a 1/8" strip of Trim Monokote. After removing the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 25 Decals There's a LOT of decals to place on this model. A good reference is Jim Balls's Scale Data hosted by Rocketry Online: http://www.rocketryonline.com/jimball/jimball/aim-54a/aim-54a.htm
The long (full wrap) wrap around bands are tricky to place. TIP: Before placing a decal on the ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 26 Panel Covers
The panel covers are glued on over the decal locations. I've drawn some faint pencil lines inside the border lines of the panel decal. In this pencil line the decal, paint and primer will have to be scraped off for better glue adhesion. To prevent chipping of the paint, score a light c ...
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Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Finished!
Take a look at the picture to the right - Can you see what's wrong? When applying the decals, the measurements on the decal placement sheet weren't adding up! I checked the old Estes catalogs. This BT-80 rocket should be 30" tall. My model was 33 3/4" tall! I called the folks at ...
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